Finding Training
Consumer Tips:
With an array of options, how will you choose an effective training?
- Consider your goals:
- Do you hope to:
- develop skills?
- gain knowledge of new practices?
- explore other career paths?
- earn professional certification credits?
- rejuvenate your energy level?
- increase networking opportunities?
- Consider the training method:
- For example, will web-based training and classroom-based training give
you
equally good opportunities to achieve your specific goals?
- Are you looking for a highly interactive experience that encourages
active
participation or a lecture-style training?
- Consider the trainer’s experience and knowledge:
- A trainer may have an excellent reputation in addressing a topic with
one
profession, but the same training may not meet another audience’s needs.
- Different disciplines often use terms unique to their profession in
discussing a
topic, and if a trainer uses unfamiliar terms, or doesn’t
speak the professional
“language” of the group there can be a barrier to
effective training.
- Consider the quality of the curriculum:
- Does the curriculum reflect current best practices?
- What sources of information are used?
- Is the curriculum regularly updated?
- Ask colleagues which trainers/training they recommend:
- Ask what characteristics of the training led them to make a recommendation.
- Two people can experience the same training and form very different impressions,
depending on what each was seeking.
- How important are the following to you?
- How well skills learned will transfer to the work setting
- Detailed training handouts and resources for post-training use
- A trainer’s background or work experience
- Whether the trainer is entertaining
- Consider your experience level and the level addressed by the training:
- Will an introductory training suited for all audiences meet your needs, or do you
have the knowledge base and experience for an advanced training?
- Consider the cost:
- Fee or free? There can be benefits to both!